Camera obscura

Hamilton and the Waikato have certainly enjoyed success from time to time in many spheres. A Royal New Zealand Air Force band takes part in a Mooloo parade celebrating a rugby victory. These men are impeccably turned out, as you would expect of any pipe band. The two elements not discernible are the tartan and whether the fore and afts are glengarrys. We think the occasion was winning the Ranfurly Shield in September 1981. The large black object behind the band is branded ‘‘Another Allsteel Pool.’’ Oh, and what is the drum major signalling? Or is he flourishing?

Contributed by Perry Rice, Heritage Librarian Photographs, Hamilton City Libraries. If you can add any information or if you wish to inquire regarding historic images, contact him at heritage@hcc.govt.nz. Please quote this number: M00646.33 Today, car and motorcycle rallies are relatively commonplace. In the early days of the 20th century, rallies assumed a more important role in New Zealand, legitimising the car as a mode of transport beyond mere city limits and forging bonds between those few affluent enough to own vehicles.

The first Auckland-to-Rotorua rally was to take place over three days in March 1904.

An initiative of the Auckland Automobile Association, it originally attracted interest from 30 to 40 car owners, though it is unclear exactly how many of these eventually took part. Leaving the Queen Street wharf at 9am on March 21, its first stopover was meant to be Hamilton. However, according to a contemporary Waikato Times report, there was insufficient accommodation in the city at the time to service participants, so all but one car stopped for the night in Ngaruawahia instead.